5 joker backstories that could be a part of the character’s on-screen origin - scoopwhoop

The DC Universe’s “Clown Prince of Crime” is arguably the most iconic big bad in the comic-book world. And even though Joker — the cinematic character, has achieved cult status, little is

known about where he comes from and where the insanity all began. The comics have explored multiple origin stories through the years. But as is seen in _The Dark Knight_, his background is

so hazy that it seems like a mystery even to the villain himself. And we haven’t really zeroed in on one story of the dawn of Joker’s menace. With the release of the upcoming _Joker_ film,

however, the mystery is likely to get solved. While we’re sure about Joaquin Phoenix playing the titular Joker, not much else is known about the plot and storyline the film is choosing to

adapt. So while we wait for the film with bated breath, here’s a primer into the various versions of the Joker’s origin that are likely to be adapted into the film. 1. THE RED HOOD According

to 1951’s Detective Comics #168, The Joker was formerly a petty criminal known as the Red Hood.  While trying to escape after one of his heists at a playing card company, the Red Hood drove

into a pool of acidic chemicals. The chemicals ended up bleaching his face, permanently disfiguring him, and driving him insane.  Thus giving birth to the menacing evil clown. 2. THE FAILED

COMEDIAN In 1988’s _Batman: The Killing Joke_, he started out as an unnamed engineer who worked at a chemical plant. With ambitions of being a standup comic, he quit his job to follow his

dream. Unfortunately, his standup career never took off and he had to resort to aiding criminals to make a living and support his pregnant wife. After he was deep into the world of crime, he

soon got under Batman’s radar. ADVERTISEMENT In one of his criminal escapades with the Batman, Joker got chased into a vat of chemicals leading to skin burns and disfiguration. And around

the same time, the engineer learned about his wife’s death in a freak accident at home. All this lead to the tragedy and insanity of the soon to become supervillain — the Joker. 3. JACK

NAPIER In the 1989 film _Batman_, Joker was a man named Jack Napier — a henchman to the crime lord, Carl Grissom. While Jack served loyally under his boss, he secretly had an affair with

Carl’s girlfriend, Alicia Hunt.  On discovering the affair Carl orders his arrest by the GCPD and Jack soon gets chased by the police. During the chase, as in most versions, Jack ends up

falling into a chemical vat changing his mental stability and physical appearance. In the same chase, he also took a bullet to his face which left him with a permanent scar that looked like

perpetual a sinister grin adding weight to his moniker. The film also alludes to Joker’s involvement in the murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents, making him the ultimate nemesis of the caped

crusader. 4. CASE STUDY In _Batman: Black and White_, first published in 1996, Joker gets bored after a string of successful bank robberies. This drives him towards creating his ‘Red Hood’

persona to bring back the thrill in his crime.  He eventually gets caught and it is believed that he pretends to be insane and creates his ‘Joker’ alter-ego in order to escape the death

penalty. While his mental state is documented in an official report, it is highly debatable as it was deduced by Dr Harleen Quinzel aka Harley Quin. 5. THE DARK KNIGHT The 2008 film, _The

Dark Knight_ explores several backstories which include being abused by an alcoholic father.  ADVERTISEMENT The abusive father was supposedly responsible for disfiguring his face and passing

on the iconic catchphrase, “Why so serious?”  On another occasion, he narrates a story about his wife’s face being mutilated by criminals and him carving his jaw in her support. His wife,

however, was sickened by this and ended up leaving him. This drove him to madness and pushed him into a life of crime.